*Alex Pereira drops Sean Strickland with a right hand. Credit: Zuffa LLC.*

The UFC hits T-Mobile Arena to host what may be the most significant card in the history of MMA. Likely the most filled-out card from top to bottom, we’ll see 12 former or current champions go to war inside the Octagon this Saturday. In the co-main event, two devastating Chinese strikers collide in a title affair when Zhang Weili takes on Yan Xiaonan. In the main event, two of the hardest hitters in the promotion do battle for gold, Alex Pereira and Jamahal Hill. Let’s take a look at some preliminary bouts, followed by the main card.

Prelims

#8 Calvin Kattar vs. Aljamain Sterling

*Calvin Kattar blasts Giga Chikadze with an elbow. Credit: Zuffa LLC.*

Featherweight Bout

Calvin Kattar: 23-7-0, 11 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Aljamain Sterling: 23-4-0, 3 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Kattar has won two of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #9 ranked Featherweight Giga Chikadze (15-3-0), #12 ranked Featherweight Dan Ige (18-7-0), and Andre Fili (23-11-0). He is a very technical, patient boxer who will fight behind his jab before letting go of brutal combinations with his hands. He pushes an insane pace, averaging over 105 significant strikes landed in his last five fights, and can easily push this pace over five rounds. Training with the New England Cartel, Kattar does a great job of lulling his opponent in by staying patient and not putting out a ton of offense before letting go of big combinations and darting back out to range. While he won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges, he has shown some solid wrestling abilities and has defended 91% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC. He has heavy ground and pound and top control when he's on top. Kattar has proven to be one of the toughest fighters in the UFC and has a granite chin.

*Aljamain Sterling stuns Henry Cejudo with a head kick. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Sterling has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #3 ranked Bantamweight Cory Sandhagen (17-4-0), #4 ranked Bantamweight champion Petr Yan twice (17-5-0), and #6 ranked Bantamweight Henry Cejudo (16-4-0). He is an excellent grappler, possessing fantastic wrestling and a lethal submission game. He has smothering top control, often using ground and pound to set up his submission attempts. To back up his grappling, Sterling has solid kickboxing on the feet, with great speed in both his hands and his kicks. He has the cardio to push a furious pace for all 25 minutes, whether on the feet or the ground, averaging about 77 significant strikes landed in his last five fights. Training at Serra-Longo Fight Team, he averages two takedowns landed per 15 minutes, along with about one submission attempt, so his most accessible path to victory is apparent. Seven of Sterling’s eight submissions have come via some choke, so he’s extremely dangerous if he can find his opponent’s neck.

#2 Jiří Procházka vs. #5 Aleksandar Rakic

*Jiri Prochazka lands a brutal left hand on Dominick Reyes. Credit: New York Post.*

Light Heavyweight Bout

Jiří Procházka: 29-4-1, 25 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Aleksandar Rakic: 14-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Prochazka has won four of his last five fights and has UFC wins over former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Glover Teixeira (33-9-0), #9 ranked Light Heavyweight Volkan Oezdemir (19-7-0), and #14 ranked Light Heavyweight Dominick Reyes (12-4-0). He’s an elusive striker with a unique style and serious power. He has excellent head movement and footwork, never remaining in one spot long and constantly attacking from different angles. Prochazka never telegraphs his strikes, always keeping his hands down and throwing every shot with fight-ending intentions. Training at Jetsaam Gym Brno, he’s always coming forward but won’t get sloppy, remaining patient and looking for openings to land strikes. He won’t typically look for takedowns but has solid pressure on top and a great submission game. Prochazka hasn’t been to a decision since 2016 and finished his last eleven wins with ten knockouts and one submission.

*Aleksandar Rakic throws a jab at Jan Blachowicz. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Rakic has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #10 ranked Light Heavyweight Anthony Smith (37-19-0), Devin Clark (14-9-0), and Thiago Santos (22-12-0). He’s a powerful, technical striker with excellent distance management and footwork. He’s constantly looking to draw a reaction out of his opponent and land counterattacks. Rakic favors power to volume, regularly throwing single shots and naked kicks from range. Training at American Top Team, he remains technical throughout, never telegraphing shots or getting sloppy. He’ll often lunge forward and throw long, heavy, straight shots before returning to distance and throwing kicks. Rakic has seven first-round knockouts and can produce a flash finish anytime.

Main Card

Bo Nickal vs. Cody Brundage

*Bo Nickal chokes out Jamie Pickett with an arm triangle. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Middleweight Bout

Bo Nickal: 5-0-0, 2 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Cody Brundage: 10-5-0, 5 KO/TKO, 3 Sub.

Nickal is undefeated and has UFC victories over Jamie Pickett (13-11-0) and Val Woodburn (7-2-0). He is a former three-time NCAA D1 collegiate wrestling champion who is very comfortable in the Octagon despite his inexperience in MMA. Unsurprisingly, he is an excellent grappler who will shoot early and secure an advantageous position very quickly. Nickal transitions at lightning speed on the ground and pursues submissions immediately once the fight hits the mat, using excellent top control to secure a finish. Training at American Top Team, his constant wrestling threat makes him very unpredictable on the feet. He has solid power in his hands and good distance management. Nickal is yet to see a second round in his short career, holding a combined cage time of 3 minutes and 32 seconds in the UFC.

*Cody Brundage lifts and slams Zach Reese to score a KO victory. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Brundage has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories coming over Tresean Gore (5-2-0), Dalcha Lungiambula (11-6-0), and Jacob Malkoun (8-3-0). He is a powerful wrestler with some heavy hands. He’s averaging nearly three takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and over one submission attempt. Brundage is willing to fight on the feet and throws everything with power, often ducking his head to throw counterstrikes. He uses a great variety of attacks and is a creative striker, with him most commonly throwing overhands and hooks. Training at FactoryX Muay Thai, he often shoots early and has solid takedowns, usually securing them quickly. Brundage is exceptionally explosive and unpredictable, holding one-shot knockout power and regularly jumping guillotines.

#1 Charles Oliveira vs. #4 Arman Tsarukyan

*Charles Oliveira damages Michael Chandler with a right hand. Credit: Essentially Sports.*

Lightweight Bout

Charles Oliveira: 34-9-0, 10 KO/TKO, 21 Sub.

Arman Tsarukyan: 21-3-0, 9 KO/TKO, 5 Sub.

Oliveira has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #2 ranked Lightweight Justin Gaethje (25-4-0), #3 ranked Lightweight Dustin Poirier (30-8-0), and #6 ranked Lightweight Michael Chandler (23-8-0). He’s an exceptionally well-rounded fighter with bricks for hands and deadly submissions. He utilizes technical, crisp Muay Thai on the feet to batter his opponents. Oliveira is averaging over two takedowns landed per fifteen minutes and nearly three submission attempts. He has solid wrestling skills, can land takedowns in open space, and will advance position incredibly quickly. Training at Chute Boxe, he has proven his ability to stay calm in deep waters, regularly getting dropped in his fights only to come back and find a way to win. Oliveira has only gone to a decision a single time in the last decade and always pushes a heavy pace.

*Arman Tsarukyan stuns Matt Frevola with a right hand. Credit: DraftKings Network.*

Tsarukyan has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #7 ranked Lightweight Beneil Dariush (22-6-1), #15 ranked Lightweight Matt Frevola (11-4-1), and Damir Ismagulov (24-3-0). He uses technical kickboxing on the feet, throwing plenty of combos, ending with head kicks, and doing a great job moving in to land shots and back out to range. He will mix in some flashy spinning kicks and spinning back fists, staying calm and picking his opponent apart with quick shots and plenty of leg kicks. Training at American Top Team, Tsarukyan has a solid wrestling background and is willing to initiate grappling exchanges to land ground and pound and pursue submissions. All 5 of the submissions on his record were via choke, so he is very dangerous if he can get a hold of someone’s neck. He’s highly durable and hasn’t been finished in the UFC despite facing top-level competition exclusively. Tsarukyan, on average, lands twice as many significant strikes per minute than he absorbs and is dangerous at all times.

#2 Justin Gaethje vs. #2 (FW) Max Holloway

*Justin Gaethje lands a punishing jab on Rafael Fiziev. Credit: MMA News.*

Lightweight Bout

Justin Gaethje: 25-4-0, 20 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Max Holloway: 25-7-0, 11 KO/TKO, 2 Sub.

Gaethje has won three of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #3 ranked Lightweight Dustin Poirier (30-8-0), #6 ranked Lightweight Michael Chandler (23-8-0), and #8 ranked Lightweight Rafael Fiziev (12-3-0). He’s one of MMA's most brutal, vicious strikers and is always willing to throw down. Possessing devastating power in both hands, he’s developed into a much more technical, skillful fighter in his promotional tenure. To match his KO power, Gaethje has some of the hardest leg kicks in MMA and throws them constantly. He has a collegiate wrestling background and solid takedown defense but has only landed a single takedown in the UFC and rarely goes to the mat. He’s exceptionally durable and is always willing to eat a shot to land one. Training with Elevation Fight Team, Gaethje has fantastic cardio and is always dangerous, capable of producing both early and late finishes.

*Max Holloway batters Calvin Kattar with a jab. Credit: MMA Mania.*

Holloway has won four of his last five outings and has UFC victories over #3 ranked Featherweight Brian Ortega (16-3-0), #4 ranked Featherweight Yair Rodriguez (16-5-0), and #6 ranked Featherweight Arnold Allen (19-3-0). One of the most respected fighters in the sport, he’s a fantastic striker capable of astronomical volume. He pushes a heavy pace and remains technical throughout, fighting behind his jab and never wasting energy. Holloway has excellent distance management and footwork, remaining in perpetual motion and landing damage without receiving much in return. Training at Gracie Technics, he has a solid submission game and has defended 84% of takedowns attempted on him in the UFC, but he rarely goes to the ground. He’ll constantly look to counterstrike, slipping his opponent’s attacks before landing his own. Holloway has a granite chin and has never been knocked down in the UFC, always coming forward and engaging the fight wherever it goes.

(C) Zhang Weili vs. #1 Yan Xiaonan

*Weili Zhang exchanges blows with Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Credit: Zuffa LLC.*

Strawweight Title Bout

Zhang Weili: 24-3-0, 11 KO/TKO, 8 Sub.

Yan Xiaonan: 18-3-0, 8 KO/TKO, 1 Sub.

Weili has found victory in three of her last five outings and has UFC victories over #3 ranked Strawweight Amanda Lemos (14-3-1) and former champions Carla Esparza (20-7-0) and Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-5-0). She pushes a serious pace, both on the feet and the ground, and is dangerous wherever the fight goes. She is arguably the most powerful puncher in the division, made even more hazardous by her accuracy and ability to stay technical while still throwing bombs. Training at Fight Ready, Weili varies her strikes well, attacking both the head and body and mixing kicks into combinations. She is willing to grapple, averaging over two takedowns landed per fight, and will immediately start punching away if she gets on top of her opponent. Like she does on the feet, she always looks for the finish on the mat, transitioning quickly and throwing devastating ground and pound. Weili has only been finished once in her career and is comfortable anywhere the fight goes.

*Yan Xianon tags Jessica Andrade with a right hand. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Xiaonan has won three of her last five fights and has UFC victories over #4 ranked Strawweight Jessica Andrade (25-12-0), #7 ranked Strawweight Mackenzie Dern (13-5-0), and #12 ranked Strawweight Angela Hill (16-13-0). She has excellent technical kickboxing skills and throws everything in combination. She regularly opens combinations with a lead leg attack, typically a sidekick. Xiaonan never telegraphs her strikes, often keeping her hands down and throwing from her hip. She’s defended 70% of takedowns attempted on her in the UFC and won’t typically initiate grappling exchanges but has solid top control and ground and pound. She’s proven to be highly durable and capable of surviving in deep waters on the feet and the ground. Xiaonan lands, on average, about 78 significant strikes per fight in the UFC and pushes a consistent pace throughout.

(C) Alex Pereira vs. #1 Jamahal Hill

*Alex Pereira lands a cracking left hook on Israel Adesanya. Credit: MMA Fighting.*

Light Heavyweight Title Bout

Alex Pereira: 9-2-0, 7 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Jamahal Hill: 12-1-0, 7 KO/TKO, 0 Sub.

Pereira has won four of his last five fights and has UFC victories over #1 ranked Middleweight Sean Strickland (28-6-0), #2 ranked Light Heavyweight Jiří Procházka (29-4-1), and #4 ranked Light Heavyweight Jan Blachowicz (29-10-1). He is a former Glory Kickboxing Middleweight and Light Heavyweight champion with a pro kickboxing record of 40-7. He is notorious for having the most devastating left hook in combat sports and loves letting it fly. Pereira has just as heavy kicks to back up his heavy hands, which he’ll often use to find his range before getting into the pocket to throw big hooks and devastating knees. He’s comfortable fighting on the outside of the octagon but is most dangerous when he takes the center and cuts off his opponent. Pereira has shown solid takedown defense and continually improving grappling, but still prefers to keep it standing. Training at Teixeira MMA, he doesn’t move a ton on the feet and sometimes stands straight in front of his opponent, waiting for them to throw something so he can fire back.

*Jamahal Hill blasts Ovince Saint Preux with a left hand. Credit: MMA News.*

Hill has won four of his last five bouts and has UFC victories over #7 ranked Light Heavyweight Johnny Walker (21-8-0), Thiago Santos (22-12-0), and former UFC champion Glover Teixeira (33-9-0). He’s a bruising striker with one-shot knockout power, constantly pressuring forward. He’ll often look to counterattack, drawing in his opponent before unloading brutal, looping hooks. Hill is accurate, landing 54% of the significant strikes he’s attempted in the UFC, and he throws every shot with purpose. He’s never shot a takedown in the UFC but has defended 73% of them tried on him and has excellent striking in the clinch, especially his knees. Training at Black Lion Jiu-Jitsu, he does a great job of mixing in kicks at the end of combinations, possessing perilous leg and head kicks. Five of Hill’s last six fights have ended via knockout, and he’s always hunting for a finish.

Best Bets

Jiří Procházka Moneyline: This is an interesting spot to be in for both fighters: Procházka is coming off his first UFC loss, whereas Rakic is returning from a long injury layoff. Rakic was a relatively slower-paced fighter before his injury, never utilizing too much movement inside the octagon. On that alone, this is an excellent matchup for the high-paced, perpetually moving Procházka. Given that his movement could be compromised by his knee injury and his general speed disadvantage, I believe Procházka will walk away with a win.

Justin Gaethje Moneyline: Despite the two title fights, this was the toughest fight for which to pick a winner. This fight is a matchup of two of the best strikers, not just of this generation but of any generation. Ultimately, I see Gaethje taking this one for a few reasons. Holloway struggled against the leg kicks of Volkanovski, which may seem minor, but when you’re facing as prolific of a leg-kicker as Justin Gaethje, it comes to the forefront. Holloway’s two best weapons are his cardio and boxing, two things Gaethje has proven he can match. Although Holloway has an exceptional chin, and I don’t think he’ll get finished, he’s never faced a striker as powerful or aggressive as Gaethje. Ultimately, I think the kicking game and power of Justin Gaethje will earn him the victory.

Weili Zhang by KO/TKO: This matchup is very close in terms of striking. Both are highly technical, with solid power and excellent cardio. The most significant disparity in skill between these two is on the mat: Xiaonan has solid takedown defense, but once she’s down there, she’s not the most experienced grappler, holding a blue belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Weili has proven to have not only fantastic wrestling but devastating ground and pound and slick submissions. Beyond this, Weili has the power advantage on the feet and can put her away there, although I believe her easiest path to victory is through grappling. If Weili wrestles early, not only could she gas out Xiaonan, but she could find herself having a short night at the office.

Alex Pereira by KO/TKO: In a relatively short time, both fighters have shot through the ranks and found themselves fighting for a title. While Hill has more UFC experience, Pereira undoubtedly has the advantage in combat sports experience. Already one of the best kickboxers in the world before joining the UFC, he’s been fighting at the highest level for years. Although Hill is an excellent striker, he’s never faced anyone near Pereira's caliber. While watching Hill’s previous fights, I’ve noticed he tends to keep his chin high in the air when throwing strikes. This lack of head movement hasn’t been a significant issue for him, as he typically holds a reach advantage and lands damage from a distance. He will have neither a height nor reach advantage in this fight and is facing possibly the heaviest-hitting striker in the entire division. Hill also will constantly look to counterattack with hooks, especially his lead hook, and the last person on the planet you want to be exchanging lead hooks with is Alex Pereira. Pereira is more skilled and experienced and should walk away with an impressive finish win.

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